The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-12
Many Ways of Marking the Pas
sage OF the Milestones of Life.
The Earth Not Such a Bad Place
After All, But Worldly Pleas
ures Not the Best.
True Value Of Money Good Acts the
Best Estimates Of Time-Preparing
for Eternity-The Last Day.

ID. d., expounded some passages OF Scripture
concerning the longevity Of the patriarchs. He
gave out the hymn beginning:
Ny days are gliding swiftly by
And I, pilgrim stranger,
Would not dctan them as they ly.
Those hours OF toll and danger.
His text was Genesis, xvii, g.: slow old
art thought" The preacher said:
The Egyptian capital was the focus OF the
worlds wealth. In ships and barges, there
had been brought to It from India franklin
cense, aud cinnamon, aud ivory, and diamonds
from the north, marble and iron; from Syria,
purple and silk; from Greece, some Of the fin
est horses Of the world and some Of the most
brilliant chariots; and from all the earth that
which could best please tbs eye, and charm
the ear, and crafty the taste. There were
temples aflame with red sandstone, entered by
the gateways that were guarded by pillars be-
wilderlng with hleroglyphics and wound with
brazen serpents, and adorned with winged
creatures-thcir eyes and bcaKs, and pinions
gllttering with precious stones. There were
marble columns blooming into white flower
beds; there were stone pillars, at the top burst
ing into the shape of the lotus when In full
bloom.
BEAUTIYs OF ANCIENT EGYPT
Along the avenues, lined with sphinx, and
fans, and cbelisk, there were princes who
came In gorgeously upholstered palanquin,
carried by servants In scarlet, or else drawn
by vehicles, the snow-white horses, golden
bitted and six abreast, dashing at full run.
There were fountains from stone-wreathed
vases climbing the ladders Of the light. You
would hear a bolt shove, and door Of brass
would open like a,lash Of the sun. The sur
rounding gardens were saturated with odors
that mounted the terrace and dripped from
the arbors and burned their incense in the
Egyptian noon. On floors OF mosaic the glo-
rIes Of Pharaoh were spelled out In letters Of
porphyry and beryl and flame. There were
ornaments twisted from the wood Of tama-
risk, embossed with silver breaking into foam
There were foot stools made out OF q single
precious stone. There were beds fashioned
out Of crouched lion In bronze There
we're chairs spotted with the sleek hides Of
leopards. There were sofas fitted with the
claws of wild beasts and armed with beaks OF
birds. As you stand on the level beach Of the
sea on n summer day, and look either way,
and there are miles OK breakers, white with
the ocean foam, dashing shoreward; so 1t
seemed as II the sea OF the worlds pomp and
wealth in the Egyptian capital for miles and
uiliCb nuuk ttctli w iuto WuitC DIcuhcfb Vi
marble temple mausoleun and obelisk.
MEASURING THE PASSING YEARS
1t was 10 this capital and the palace Of
Pharaoh that Jacob, the plain shepherd,
came 70 meet his son Joseph, who had become
prime minister In the royal apartment.
Pharaoh ami Jacob meet, dignity and rustic
ity. the gracefulness Of the court and the plain
manners Of the field. The king wanting TO
make the old conntryman at ease, aud seeing
how white his beard Is and how feeble his
STEP looks Familiarity into his face, and says
TO the aged man: "How old art thouf'
Night before Last the gate Of eternity opened
to let in, amid the great throng Of departed
centuries, the soul Of the dying year. Under
the twelfth stroke OF the brazen hammer Of
the city clock, the patriarch fell dead, and the
stars OF the night we're the funeral torches. 1t
Ia most fortunate that on this road OF life
there are 90 many milestones, on which we
can read Just how fast we are going towards
the journeys end. feel that II Is not an In
appropriate question that ask. to-day, when
look into your faces and say, as Pharaoh
did to Jacob, the Patriarch "How old art
thouin
People who are truthful on every other sub
juect lie about their ages, so that do not
solicit from YOU any literal response 70 the
question have asked. would put no one
under temptation; but simply want this
morning. TO see by what rod II is we are
measuring our earthly existence. There is
right way and wrong way OF measuring a
door, or wall, or an arch, or tower, and so
there is right way and wrong way Of
measuring our earthly existence. IL Is with
reference 10 this higher meaning that / con-
front you this morning, with the stupendous
question Of the text and ask: "How old art
thoup
Joys FOUND on THIS EARTH.
Their are many who estimate their life by
mere worldly qualification. When Lord Dun
das was wished q happy New Year he said:
ut will have 70 be happier year than the
past, for hadn't one happy moment In all the
twelve months that have gone" But that has
not been the experience of most OF us. We
have found that though the world 4 blasted
TO reside 10. We have had joys innumerable.
There is no hostility between the gospel and
the merrlments and festivities Of life. ! do
not think that we fully enough appreciate the
WORLDLY pleasures God gives US When you re-
count your enjoyments you do not 20 far
enough back. Why do you not go back 70 the
arms. looking no into the heaven Of her smile;
70 those days when you filed the house with
the uproar OF boistcrous merriment; when
yous shouted a. you pitched the ball on the
when, ON the cold, sharp winter
night, muffied up ON skates you shot out over
the resourding Ice OF the pondi Have you
gave youi Were you never boyi Were you
never a grill Between those times and this,
how many mercles how many kindnesses the
Lord has bestowed upon you How many
iowa have brrnthcd up to ron from the flowers,
and shown down 30 from the stars. and chant
ed 70 you with the voice Of soaring bird, and
and tumbling cascade. and booming sea, and
thunders that with bayonets ~ fire charged
down the mountain sidei Joyl Joy Joy
II there Is anyone who has right 70 the
eniovmcnts OF :he world II IL the Christian,
for God has given him lease 70 everything In
the promise. Gan are yours"
WORLDLY PLEASURES NOT ALL
but havc 20 tell you that man who est
mates his life on earth by mere worldly graft
llcatlon n a most unWise man. Our lie Il
not 10 be 4 naInc Of chnsl. Il Is not 4 dange